The Japan Conference, Revisionist History, and East Asian Politics
On September 3rd Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet, a common political action in Japan, often used as a way of maintaining support. The new cabinet included five women, which was widely considered a nod to female voters and a move to make politics more inclusive in a country with very few women […]
Know Thy Enemy: Cyber Warfare in the 21st Century
“It’s the great irony of our Information Age – the very technologies that empower us to create and to build also empower those who would disrupt and destroy.”[1] Referring to the 2010 hacking attacks on Google and several other companies in various industries, President Obama demonstrates the new type of threat that the world is […]
Cuban Privatization: The Newest Victim of a Failed Embargo
The birth of Communist Cuba at the height of the Cold War presented a perceived immediate and dire threat to the United States. In response, President Kennedy authorized a handful of covert CIA operations to overthrow Cuba’s leader, Fidel Castro. All of these attempts failed, culminating with the disastrous Bay of Pigs Invasion. In October […]
The Media Versus the Environmental Movement: The Unseen Battle
The environmental movement in the United States faces many challenges from varied social, political, and economic pressures. Economic growth and the free market often take priority over all other issues, regardless of the implications of those values. As such, attempts at regulation or environmental protection are viewed as restrictive and infringing upon the rights of […]
The Cost of Asylum: The Syrian Refugee’s Plight in Germany
Germany faces a uniquely delicate situation due to a recent influx of refugees. Since 2011, Syria has been immersed in a civil war that has rivaled any in recent years, with up to 200,000 people dead and at least 4.5 million internally displaced.[1] The crisis has forced millions from their homeland, which has created an […]
Setting Alight the Molotov Cocktail: The Kashmir Question
“It is an irony of history that by a combination of fortuitous circumstances a tiny nation of Kashmiris has been placed in a position of great importance, where it can be instrumental in making or marring the future of so many.” – Prem Nath Bazaz (1967) Hindustan’s partition into Pakistan and India precipitated problems and […]
Resources, Education and Stigma: Deficits of the American Mental Health Care System
While America may not have a reputation as the world’s healthiest country, both state and local governments are working towards improving the health of the populace. Initiatives such as, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, New York City’s ban on large sugary beverages, and the requirement of restaurants and similar establishments to provide nutritional […]
Reviving a Power in East Asia: Japanese Remilitarization
President Obama’s plan to “pivot to Asia” seems to have been put on hold. The idea to increase U.S. military presence in Asia was prompted by the economic and military rise of China, the nuclear threat in North Korea and a rocky relationship with Russia. However, global crises like the rise of ISIS have brought […]
The Privacy of Politics
I had the privilege of being a panelist at last Mondays “The Politics of Privacy” event, co-hosted by Generation Citizen, the NU College Democrats, the NU College Republicans, and the Northeastern University Political Review. The main speaker of the event was Chris Farlone, a journalist for DigBoston who had uncovered a story about how the […]
Clinton Teams Up with Coakley for MA Governor’s Race
When recent polls revealed that Republican Charlie Baker had an almost nine point lead over Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, all eyes turned to Coakley’s next move. Next on her campaign schedule was the October 24th rally at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel featuring former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, current MA […]